Disk water-meter



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o dem J. THOMSON.

DISK WATER METER- No. 520,195. A Patented May Z2, 18914.

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m.. NT 0E SM R mg T HA TmvSA a d 0 M 0 /N\ No. 520,195. Patented May Z2,1894.

"Il l/ Syl/vanto@ JOUL omsvll 6MM zo* a Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN THOMSON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE NEPTUNE METERCOMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

DISK WATER-METER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.520,195, dated May 22,1894.

Application filed August 9,1893. Serial No.482,769. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN THOMSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Disk Water-Meters, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to disk water meters, and it has for its object toimprove and simplify the construction and operation of such meters, andto these ends my invention consists in the various features ofconstruction and arrangement of parts, producing the mode of operationsubstantially such as hereinaftermore particularly set forth.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which I have shown anembodiment of my invention in one completed apparatus, although it willbe understood that the features of invention may be used separately ortogether, or in connection with other features, Figure 1, is avertical,central section through the inlet and outlet spuds and the main casing,the disk and internal gear train being shown in side elevation. Fig. 2,is ahorizontal, center section of the main casing on the line A, Fig. 1,the top of the disk casing being shown in plan. Fig. 3, is a plan viewof the inside of one of the sections of the disk casing. Fig. a, is atransverse section through the disk casing showing the diaphragm in sideelevation, and noting a modification in dotted outline. Fig. 5, isadetail view of the diaphragm. Fig. 6, is a detached cross-sectionalview of the annular receiving channel of the main casing on the line B,Fig. 2 5 and Fig. 7, is a detached section and elevation of the channelon the circular line C, Fig. 2.

One of the features of myinvention relates more particularly to theconstruction of the disk casing and the parts connected therewith, andparticularly to the construction and arrangement of the diaphragm inconnection with the disk casing, and in carrying out this part of myinvention I make the disk casing of two separate sections 10 and 12,without any partition or wall between the ports, as heretoforeconstructed in this class of meters, for the purpose of attaching thediaphragm; but in place of that, the sections of the casing are cut orotherwise formed, as by sawing or milling radially or cross-wise, asshown at 13, Fig. 3, forming open slots suitably 1ocatedcircumferentially with relation to the inlet and outlet ports, andwithin theslots so formed the diaphragm 14 is inserted.

The diaphragm 14, is preferably constructed from a piece of sheet metal,and is of a width equal to the combined width of the two sections of thedisk casing at its outer diame- 6o ter. The inner edge of the diaphragmis formed in the arc of a circle, as 15,to receive the ball 9 of thedisk, and it is further provided with two lips 16, which are adapted toengage the flat bearing surfaces 17 of the 65 outer sides of the diskcasing, the central portion of the disk casingbeingof less thicknessthan at the edges, the parts being practically cone frusta, as is wellunderstood in this class of devices. Thus, the diaphragm can 7o beinserted into the slots of the disk casing by forcing it inwardly towardthe socket, as indicated by the arrow Z, Fig. 4, and the faces 18, actas stops to tix the horizontal position of the diaphragm, while thebearings 17, in connection with the lips 16, deline its verticalposition, and thus it will be seen that the diaphragm can be accuratelyseated by simply slipping it in place, and when once in place, it willbe securely held without danger 8o of displacement, and without thenecessity of providing ribs or projections in the disk chamber.Furthermore, not only is the diaphragm held in position, but it servesin addition to act as a key to clamp the sections 10 and 12, of the diskcasing together, the lips 16, bearing on the surfaces 17 for thispurpose, and this is a great convenience in assembling the parts andtesting -the same, without the necessity of permanently secur- 9o ingthe parts together. The diaphragm is further provided with a lip 19,extended outwardly beyond the perimeter of the disk casing, and this isadapted to engage the slot 20 in the main casing (see Fig. 5), thusacting to 95 properly locate both of the casings with relation to eachother circumferentially.

When the disk casing is placed within its bearings in the main casing,and an inclosing cap, as 2l, is closed to impinge upon its roo outerface 22, and also upon the outer face 23 of the diaphragm, forcing thedisk casing and diaphragm to a stop shoulder, as 2l, in

the casing, the entire structure is firmly locked and secured inposition, and the necessary perfection of joint closure between the diskcasing and the main casing is readily obtained. This may be done by theuse of truly cylindrical bearings, but I prefer to employ a taperingbearing in the main casing, the outer peripheral surface of the diskcasing being formed to a corresponding angle, as indicated by the linesV, Fig. Il. The mechanical construction of such a bearing is somewhatmore troublesome to maintain than a true cylindrical bearing, but thepractical advantage is that the disk casing may be more readily loosenedand removed after the joints may have been corroded. Therefore, in adevice of this character, the aforesaid detail of construction isregarded as of considerable importance, in that it provides adequatemeans for the subsequent ready eX- amination and repair of the meter, itbeing observed that it is only necessary to remove the cap 2l, when thedisk chamber and connections may be removed from the main casing andadjusted or inspected, as required. One of the particular advantages ofthis arrangement of the diaphragm is that there is the utmost freedom ofdelivery of fluid to and from the disk chamber H, as no sharp corners orpockets are formed by the intersection of the diaphragm with the casing,and hence the displacement of the disk is not throttled, and the strainupon the device is uniform throughout the complete nutation of the disk.

It is well known that one of the objects of this class of meters is toavoid friction in the operation of the disk 8 and ball 9, so that themeter will operate with uniformity under all flows, and not be liable towear. The construction and arrangement of the diaphragm and casing abovedescribed tend to this result, but in order to further carry out thisidea, I nickel-plate the inner portion, at least, of the disk casing ofthe meter, thereby providing a perfectly smooth and uniform surface forthe disk, and as the disk is usually made of rubber, I find that thefriction between the nickel-plated surfaces and the rubber isexceedingly small and much less than when the ordinary materials, likebrass, or similar compositions, are used, and not only are the frictionand wear less, but the parts are less liable to corrosion by the fiuidspassing through, and it will thus be seen that the operative parts ofthe meter will be more uniform and accurate in their operations, and besubject to less wear, and hence of longer life. The diaphragm too, ispreferably nickelplated for the same reasons, and I find that the rubberdisk arranged in connection with the nickelplated disk chamber anddiaphragm produces highly practical results.

While the sections of the disk casing are held together with greater orless security by the diaphragm as above constructed, it is desirable toprovide other means for holding the parts together, whether a diaphragmof such a construction is `used or not, and this I accomplish byproviding narrow grooves 25, in the inner contact faces 26 of the diskcasing sections, and then providing narrow strips 27, of spring-metaland springing three or more of them into the grooves, as best shown inFigs. 3 and 4, when the spring tension 0f the narrow strips will holdthe sections se curely in position. The metal strips are thus bent toform circular bearing ribs adapted to be received by the correspondinggroove in the opposite section. Instead of a series of strips,it isobvious that a single strip might be employed, producing a continuousrib. The advantages of this construction are that the bearing faces 26do not require to be so broad as would be necessary for the insertion ofsteady-pins; that each section of the casing is a duplicate of theother, and as the operations in forming the sections are identical, thechances of error in machining or molding are materially reduced, and thedetails of manufacture simplified, while the result is an exceedinglysimple and effective construction.

Another feature of my invention relates to the arrangement of the portsand waterways, and in carrying out this feature, the disk casing isentirely surrounded at its periphery by a circumferential channel R,between it and the inner wall of the outer or main casing. A rib 28,meeting the outer edge of the diaphragm, and a rib 29, making contactcrosswise with the cylindrical exterior of the disk casing divides theannular channel circumferentially into two portions, while thecontact ofthe disk casing with the cylindrical bearings 24 and 30 of the maincasing I, completes the closure of the channel R. The inlet stream iscaused to first enter the space Q, farthest from the inlet port F of thedisk casing, and this is accomplished in the present instance, bycurving one of the inner walls of the inlet spud, as at 3l, to act as adeflector. In the bottom of this portion Q, of the receiving channel,are arranged a number of ribs 32, disposed transversely therein, and ofless height than the channel, as best seen in Fig. 7, thereby forming aseries of open pockets. The object of thus rst defiecting the swiftentering stream away from the inlet port of the disk casing, is todeposit in these pockets any obstructions likely to damage the disk,particularly as in the instance of lead and paste used in making thethread and wiped joints of the water pipe. Then too, this forces acomplete reversal of the current within the channel, so that the liowthrough that portion of the channel opposite to the inlet port is at aratio equal to the cross-sec tional area of that space, and the deliveryinto the inner port of the disk chamber is at the lowest possiblevelocity. The delivery from the outlet port J, of the disk chamber intothe annular space at T, is also entirely unimpeded. This arrangement,likewise, obtains a condition of pressure in the chambers N and M aboveand below the disk casing, which is absolutely similar whether thecondition of operation be dynamic or static, as the water which reachesand fills this chamber musteither pass the joints of the ball and thediaphragm, or through special perforations in the disk casings, asindicated at e, Fig. 2. The described construction and arrangement alsoaord convenient means for the application of a screen or strainer, as bysimply taking a strip of perforated metal 33, and inserting it in theannular channel opposite the inlet port. It is thus upon the insertionof the disk casing, securely confined in position and effectuallyprotects the disk against such material as may not have lodged in theaforesaid receiving pockets. Moreover, the strainer may be readilyremoved for cleaning, and a new screen Aor strainer may be substitutedby simply withdrawing the disk casing. Another advantage of thisconstruction is that the inlet spud 34., and the outlet spud 35, may liein the vertical and horizontal centers of the main casing, instead ofthe more cumbersome and unsymmetrical arrangement heretofore suggested,in which the spuds li,e tangentially to the casing.

1n some instances it is desirable to arrange the ports and diaphragm inthe position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, as this gives moreinlet space and allows a dierent arrangement of the strainer as clearlyshown by the dotted lines.

As shown in dotted lines Y, of Fig. 4, the conditions for obtaining theannular channel may readily be reversed, the space being formed in thedisk casing and the closure effected by the main casing, but the resultwill be identical, differing only in details of construction.

It will thus be seen that by the arrangements and constructions aboveindicated, not only am I enabled to cheapen the cost of such meters,but-I provide a meter which is easily assembled or taken apart foradjustment or inspection, the parts are symmetrically arranged toproduce the best results, and there is the least wear and tear in itsoperation resulting in an eflcient and accurate meter, and while I havedescribed the details of construction in the embodiment of my inventionshown, it will be readily understood that these details may be variedWithout departing from the spirit of myinventiomandl do not, therefore,limit myself to thespecitic arrangements set forth.

l. ln a water meter, a disk chamber having an open, radial or transverseslot so formed as to permit of a diaphragm being inserted therein fromthe outside, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a disk casing having an open transverse slotextending from the periphery of the disk casing inwardly to its socket,of a diaphragm inserted therein thereby forming the inlet and outletports of Y the disk chamber, substantially as described.v

3. The combination with a disk casing cornposed of two .sections andhaving an open transverse slot formed therein, of a diaphragm insertedin the slot and adapted to clamp the sections of the casing together,substantially as described.'

4. The combination with a disk casing composed of two sections andprovided with an open transverse slot, of a diaphragm inserted in saidslot the diaphragm being provided with lips adapted to engage the outersurfaces of the disk casing, substantially as described.

5. The combination with the main casing having a slot, of the diskcasing, and the diaphragm the diaphragm having a projection extendingoutwardly from the disk casing and adapted to engage said slot in themain casing, substantially as described.

6. The combination with the disk casing made in sections and havingcircular grooves in their inner contact faces, of a strip or strips of.metal inserted in said grooves substantially as described.

'7. The combination with the main casing, of the disk casing centrallymounted therein, the annular channel surrounding the disk casing, adiaphragm in said disk casing, ribs separating the channel intoreceiving and discharging spaces, one of the ribs being opposite thediaphragm, and the diaphragm engaging the said rib substantially asdescribed.

8. The combination with the main casing, of the disk casing, and theannular receiving channel provided with open pockets, substantially asdescribed.

9. The combination with the main casing having an inlet and a receivingchannel extending at each side of said inlet, of a disk 'casing havingan inlet port arranged at or near the end of one side of the receivingchannel, and the other side of the receiving channel beingY providedwith open pockets, substantially as described.

10. The combination with the main casing, of the disk casing having theinlet port, the annular receiving channel, the inlet, and a deliectorthe deflector being arranged so that the inlet current is deflected intothat portion of the receiving space farthest from the inlet port of thedisk casing, substantially as` described.

ll. The combination with the main casing having an inlet and outlet andan annularV channel between the inlet and outlet, and transverse ribsseparating said channel into inlet and outlet channels, of a disk casinginserted in the main casing, and having an inlet and outlet portadjacent to one of the ribs, open pockets in one portion of the inletchannel, and a delector arranged to deflect the inlet current toward theopen pockets, and away from the inlet port of the disk casing,substantially as described.

12. The combination with the main casing,

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name to this specification in the presence of Jawo subscribingWitnesses.

JOHN THOMSON.

' Witnesses:

ROBERT S. CHAPPELL, J. MCKINNON.

